Technology & Innovation - Issue 11

Like, share, ask, learn Online spaces play hugely important roles in teenagers’ lives – so let’s ask them how we can make the platforms they use better and safer, writes RebeccaWestcott A s a deputy head and parent of three children, I’ve long been interested in how being a teenager has changed since my own experience of those roller-coaster years. Many things are universal and have remained the same – the stresses of peer pressure, the need to fit in, working out how to handle things if you don’t. But there are some differences, too – the biggest of which has to be the emergence of the internet and social media. Nowhere to hide When I was 14, a rough day at school could be left behind when I closed my front door. I had respite and sanctuary, at least until 9am the following morning. Today, there’s nowhere to hide. Kids are contactable 24 hours a day, and negativity can find them everywhere. As we know all too well, this can end in disaster – and in some cases, it tragically has. Breathless headlines link social media activity to increases in depression, anxiety, mental distress, self- harming behaviours and risks of suicide, but that’s a list none of us can afford to ignore. So we endlessly discuss the ways in which young people now seem to live their lives online, and the huge value they place on gaining clout or likes. We ask ourselves why they opt to spend so much time on their phones, and bemoan how they often seemhappiest when in front of screens. I was curious about the true impact of social media on teenagers’ mental health – and so, when I devised the idea for a YA novel centred on teenage girls and how their wellbeing is affected by cyber-bullying, I went looking for evidence. First-hand experience The sea of opinions out there –mostly variations on the ‘evils of the internet’ and their consequences for the teenage mind – are largely written by adults who grew up before evenmobile phones were a thing, never mind Snapchat or TikTok. Notably absent was published commentary and data from those people who actually knowwhat it’s like. I wanted to find out what they thought, because if we want to genuinely help our young people navigate this newworld, then we need to hear the thoughts and ideas of individuals with first-hand experience of the issues involved. So I asked them. With the help of Scholastic, we sent out the ‘Say It Like It Is’ survey, and were amazed to receive just over 1,000 responses from young people around the UK. I asked them questions regarding their use of social media, and what they would like adults and other kids to know about the internet more broadly. I also asked whether they felt that the person they are online is the same as the person they are in real life. I asked if they’d ever been made to feel uncomfortable online – and whether they’d ever behaved negatively themselves from behind a screen. Above all, I asked what rules around internet use, if any, they would put in place if they were in charge. The responses I sawwere intelligent, thoughtful and sometimes heartbreaking. The kids are alright Age restrictions came up a lot. There are clear concerns among teens around younger children being given unrestricted access to the internet, as well as a desire to prevent anyone over the age of 18 from being able to contact themunless they’ve been specifically approved by a trusted guardian. The kids, it seems, are alright. It’s often the adults who present the threat. Many of the survey’s respondents issued a plea for better filters that could prevent them being exposed to disturbing material. ‘Pro-ana’, diet culture, rape culture, racist and body shaming content were all mentioned as things they didn’t wish to view or stumble upon – as well as content and views conveying homophobia, transphobia and animal abuse. Sexual material, as well as requests to send nudes or the sending of unsolicited nudes, was another area that caused these respondents distress – not that they’re moaning about it. The matter-of-fact way in which they offered these suggestions for simply limiting the chances of them seeing horrifying posts, pictures and videos was one of the hardest things to stomach about the survey’s comments. Some suggested handing out time restrictions for antisocial internet users. Others thought that permanent bans should be issued to repeat offenders who ignore guidelines – including the senders of death threats. A large number believed that the issues at hand could be solved if people simply tried to be ‘kind’ and ‘respectful’, and ‘didn’t bully or give hate’. They’re not wrong. Riskversus reward In the opinion of just over 1,000 young people, what we shouldn’t do is take away their phones or arbitrarily restrict their access. “Many issuedaplea for betterfilters that could prevent thembeing exposed todisturbingmaterial” 52 teachwire.net